VIA has recently released open documentation for the vx700 and vx800 chipsets at the [http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action VIA Download Portal] and open documentation for the latest [http://www.x.org/docs/via/ Unichrome] graphics controllers. VIA has also released binary unichrome drivers with 2D and 3D accel support for Ubuntu 8.04 and 8.10 as well as source for 2D at [http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action VIA Linux Portal].

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== Embedded controllers ==

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VIA is currently developing coreboot support for the vx800 chipset. [http://www.openchrome.org/ openChrome] support including 2D and 3D accel is also in the works for many new chipsets including the vx700 and vx800.

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The remaining issue with supporting netbooks may be open firmware support for the [[Embedded controller]] (EC).

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These ECs used to support keyboard scan, lid open/closed, battery charging, power management, etc.

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The remaining issue with supporting these and other similar netbooks may be open firmware support for the Embedded Controller (EC). The most common EC's in these netbooks are the KB3310, KB3910 and KB3920 from [http://www.ene.com.tw/en/index.asp ENE Technology]. The ENE EC's are 8051 based and are used to support keyboard scan, lid open/closed, battery charging, power management, etc.

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coreboot should work with the "stock" EC firmware. This may still be a challenge because "we don't know what we don't know". Behavior at runtime is fairly standardized, but we don't know what we need to do for initialization - do we need to set up registers, put in tables, kick things, or will it all Just Work (TM)?

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coreboot may work with the "stock" firmware. This may still be a challenge because "we don't know what we don't know". Behavior at runtime is fairly standardized, but we don't know what we need to do for initialization - do we need to set up registers, put in tables, kick things, or will it all Just Work (TM)?

Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) make the laptops for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). They in turn, add their preloaded hard drives and sell them to consumers. This is why a laptop is a bit more complicated to support with coreboot. The OEM's may not even have all the specifications for the laptop since the ODM has done all the design and assembly.

Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) make the laptops for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). They in turn, add their preloaded hard drives and sell them to consumers. This is why a laptop is a bit more complicated to support with coreboot. The OEM's may not even have all the specifications for the laptop since the ODM has done all the design and assembly.

The following list is a out of date. These were laptops of interest as possible candidates for coreboot support. Most, if not all of these laptops are no longer available. It is only here for reference.

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VIA has a list of many netbooks at [http://via.com.tw/en/products/notebook/notebook.jsp VIA Partner Mobility Devices].

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VIA also has information on other mobile platforms at [http://via.com.tw/en/products/notebook/index.jsp VIA Mobility Platform].

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The [http://www.a110wiki.de Quanta IL1] vx800 based reference design covers similar models/clones such as:

Embedded controllers

The remaining issue with supporting netbooks may be open firmware support for the Embedded controller (EC).
These ECs used to support keyboard scan, lid open/closed, battery charging, power management, etc.

coreboot should work with the "stock" EC firmware. This may still be a challenge because "we don't know what we don't know". Behavior at runtime is fairly standardized, but we don't know what we need to do for initialization - do we need to set up registers, put in tables, kick things, or will it all Just Work (TM)?

Who really makes your laptop?

There are several various brands of laptops, but there are only a few actual laptop makers.

Name brand companies like Hewlet Packard, Compaq, IBM, Dell, Gateway, Sony, Micron, Toshiba and others; including Alienware and Voodoo do not make their own laptops. The exceptions are Asus and Apple, and even Apple doesn't make all of their laptops.

Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) make the laptops for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). They in turn, add their preloaded hard drives and sell them to consumers. This is why a laptop is a bit more complicated to support with coreboot. The OEM's may not even have all the specifications for the laptop since the ODM has done all the design and assembly.

Random product links

The following list is a out of date. These were laptops of interest as possible candidates for coreboot support. Most, if not all of these laptops are no longer available. It is only here for reference.